School Data
School Narrative for the 2007-2008 SSP
Bunnell High School is a school that values diversity. Our student body reflects the wide racial, ethnic and economic diversity of the Town of Stratford and State of Connecticut. Students also participate in a number of programs and activities that encourage appreciation of diversity. These include the following:
1. Students have participated in assemblies and produced a student literary magazine as part of “Unlearn,” an ongoing project to help student unlearn racism, prejudice, disrespect, and other damaging ideas.
2. In Ethnic Foods class, students have the opportunity to study the foods, culture, and social patterns from various nations and cultures.
3. Several student activities programs, notably Model United Nations and Amnesty International, focus on international relations and politics.
4. Our students participate in inter-district magnet programs at the Aquaculture School (Bridgeport), the Regional Center for the Arts (Bridgeport) and the Center for Asian Studies (Norwalk).
5. Collaborative classes with Stratford High School are offered in AP Chemistry, the Cisco Academy, Marching Band, and other classes.
6. Intergenerational programs are offered in connection with the Stratford Senior Center and the Baldwin Center in which our students work with senior citizens and veterans of foreign wars.
7. Our Library Media Center sponsors monthly displays that promote an understanding of our diverse population. This past year the schedule was as follows: September – Hispanic Americans, November – Native Americans, December – Judaism and Islam, January - Asian Americans, February – African Americans, and March – Women in US History.
Bunnell High School has a comprehensive school improvement plan that is made available to all parents, students, and community members through our school website. This plan is updated annually by a collaborative process involving administrators, teachers, and parents. Data on our evaluation of the annual plan and school and student achievement also is published annually on our website. The current 2008/09 school year improvement plan focuses on the following three goals:
1. Increasing the percent of students scoring proficient or above on each of the four subtests of the CAPT by 3% to 5% depending on the subject,
2. Increasing the percent of students scoring goal or above on each of the four subtests of the CAPT by 2% to 3% depending on the subject
3. Decreasing the percent of students failing academic courses by 1% in all departments.
For each goal, we have identified 5 to 6 specific strategies that we will implement to achieve the desired outcomes. These strategies range from developing special intervention programs, such as individualized student success plans and “double-dose” reading and math classes, focusing on instructional improvement through data-driven decision-making, and instructional refinements, such as monitoring the active use of effective teaching strategies in classes.
Within the Special Education Department, our school improvement plan focuses on making sure students with severe disabilities have full access to Bunnell High School’s programs and that all students with special educational needs receive the support they need to be successful in regular education classes. We also are focused on the development of effective collaborative instructional models that link special and regular education teachers in collaborative classes.
Frank Scott Bunnell High School is a comprehensive high school that enrolls approximately 1,300 students of whom 39% are minority students.
Bunnell is a supportive environment. Our frequent communications with parents has resulted in a high level of parent involvement. Academically, our students are accepted into prestigious colleges and universities throughout the country. Our evolving “School-to-Career” initiative gives students knowledge, opportunities, and skills in making career and post-education decisions. All 10th grade students participate in a career-shadowing program and many 12th grade students are involved in part-day internships. In addition, we use the “Character Counts” character education program throughout or school, and the six pillars are incorporated into our student recognition program and student support programs.
Over 65% of students participate in one or more extracurricular or athletic activity. We offer a full range of athletic programs at the freshman, junior varsity, and varsity level. In addition, we have over 35 extracurricular clubs and activities that engage students in exciting and rewarding activities that supplement the instruction provided in classrooms.
Bunnell High School is committed to the success of every student. We believe that we must continue to learn and to improve our programs and services for students if we are to continue to be competitive in the 21st century.
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